Western European Window Market: Clear Upward Trend

The mixing machines are hot again in Europe and thus are also boosting the window market. The window market in Western Europe increased its sales by 2.9% to 59.8 million window units sold due to the increase in new construction activity last year. By 2020, a moderate increase (+ 3.2% per year, + 4.2% in value per year) is expected for the industry, as Interconnection Consulting shows in a new study.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland Benefit from Immigration

Sales in all regions of Western Europe are increasing. Growth in Germany, Austria and Switzerland was strongest at 4.0%. According to Interconnection, this German-speaking region (4.5% / year) along with the Nordic countries (+ 3.8% / year), which show the greatest growth, should also reach the forecast horizon by 2020. In the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) the number one market driver is the housing shortage in the conurbations. The rising immigration intensifies the pressure on housing construction. The government reacts, especially in Germany, to special depreciation on the promotion of housing. For example, a look at the completion of construction shows a clear recovery in German residential construction (2016 + 13.1%).

Brexit Is Showing its Teeth

The window market in other regions also shows positive development. The Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland) were able to increase their sales by 3.1% in 2016. In France and the Benelux countries, sales in 2016 rose by 2.6% and in Great Britain and Ireland by 2.5%. However, sales in Great Britain did not increase due to the decline of the pound. And for this year, sales in this region have also been stagnating for the first time for a long time. The region with the lowest sales growth was the south of Europe (Italy, Spain, and Portugal) with a growth of 1.5%. This result is all the more remarkable because it is the first increase in the sector since the start of the debt crisis.

New Construction Is the Market Driver

As far as residential construction is concerned, the new construction sector is the market driver, however, the renovation segment still dominates all five submarkets examined. In Southern Europe, renovations account for 72.5% of the total market. In Northern Europe, 63.7%, the UK & Ireland 63.2%, France & Benelux 61.9% and the DACH region 52.9%. The construction of buildings, on the other hand, is only gradually under way. Due to steady market uncertainties and debt, its growth is smaller than that of the residential sector.

Plastic for Low-priced Housing Construction

4 of 10 windows are made of plastic (42.8%). The main profiteers of growth in residential construction are manufacturers of plastic windows. “Housing projects are often price-driven, which is why cost-effective PVC windows are used,” explains Laszlo Barla, author of the study. Residential building projects in conurbations are price-driven, which is why providers from Eastern Europe are usually awarded the contract. PVC will be therefore gaining market shares over the next few years. Metal (25.8%), on the other hand, is slightly declining as the non-residential construction is slow. Combinations are the biggest winners. Wood-aluminum is highly valued in Scandinavia, but design plays a major role in Southern Europe, concluded Barla.

E-mail: info@interconnectionconsulting.com

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The Glazerite UK Group has completed the latest phase of its ambitious expansion programme with a major step-up to a 30,000 sq ft Special Products plant, with plans already underway for the next phase.

The company’s acclaimed Vertical Sliders, Residence Collection products and the VEKA Imagine bi-fold, patio and flush doors will all be made in the purpose-equipped factory by a specially-trained fabrication team with its own dedicated management and Quality Control systems.

The new unit, close to Glazerite’s Wellingborough HQ, is more than twice the size of its original Specials factory opened in 2014 and gives further capacity for the group’s ever-growing range of niche, premium and specialist windows and doors.

“These are all specialist products,” said Group Director Jason Thompson, “So they deserve specialist attention, both in the technology of the manufacturing processes and in the skills of the people involved at all levels.

“The fact that we have outgrown the original Specials factory in less than three years shows how not only the range but also the volume of demand for these products has grown in that short time. By adding this very spacious new factory, we are not only showing our commitment to the future growth of these products but also adding ample capacity to give the same attention to whatever future trends have yet to emerge.”

The launch of the new unit also gives Glazerite a fourth specific production centre, along with Halo fabrication at Glazerite East, the former City Beads factory in Peterborough acquired by the Group last year, and its mainstream VEKA production at Wellingborough and Bolton.

Jason explained the philosophy behind the move: “We offer one of the most comprehensive product ranges available anywhere but our customers deserve more than just a Jack-of-all-trades. On the other hand, some specialist fabricators have a very limited product offering. Now, with the three separate centres, each with its own dedicated skills and production lines, we can offer three distinct centres of expertise all from a single buying point.”

The second phase of development at the Wellingborough site, which will include a showroom and training facility as well as a trade counter to serve its local customer base, is due to be completed early in 2018.

The Glazerite UK Group is VEKA’s largest trade fabricator in the UK and a long-standing Network VEKA member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants, Peterborough and Greater Manchester as well as its South West distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England.

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

The skills gap represents the major challenge for the glass processing and glazing sectors as increasing automation of process and generational change creates a deficit in traditional skills.

The warning was made at a special industry forum, organised by Bohle to discuss the key issues shaping the glass processing and glazing sector.

Held in London in early October, the skills deficit and limited training and development opportunities for new entrants to the sector were highlighted as the single biggest challenge for glass processors and glaziers.

1^st Glass & Mirror’s David Simberg, warning that quality remained a challenge for the industry because of the erosion of traditional skills sets as a generation of glass processors moved out of the industry.

This was echoed by Vince McDonnell, Glass Designs, who attributed the decline to the increasing automation of process. He argued the focus on volume production had accelerated this trend.

Paul Rogers, Express Glazing, also picked up on the theme. He said: “We need a consistent and standardised training programme, raising the skills set right across the industry. This would give businesses the confidence to invest because everyone is investing – you aren’t simply training people for someone else”.

Philip Pinnington, Glass & Glazing Federation, said the GGF was working with training providers to align training programmes to industry requirements. He picked up on a point also raised by other members that the industry was also struggling to attract new blood, suggesting it should be targeting ‘career-switchers’ as well as school and college leavers.

Despite this, those attending said that they were nonetheless, confident about the industry’s future, citing Brexit as a not necessarily welcome but far more a ‘bump in the road’ than anything catastrophic.

Glass Design’s Billy Perry, reporting that delays to major London commercial and new build contracts meant that order books remained healthy. He added: “What’s also been happening recently is that we are being asked by existing customers who we have worked with inside London to tender on projects outside of it, for example Manchester.”

The forecast slowdown in foreign investment in London had also not materialised, with many central London developments being sold almost entirely to overseas investors.

Nonetheless, those attending the forum said that they expected the toughening of economic conditions that had accompanied Brexit to continue for the foreseeable future. This had led to a ‘turning down of the temperature of the London market”, according to Rogers.

Putting Brexit to one side, continuing innovation in glass technology was seen as a key driver of future growth including multi-laminates, security, acoustic and painted glass.

The integrity of the supply chain was also seen as important. The Glass Wipeboard Company’s Aaron Dewhurst, suggesting that corporate and commercial clients were increasingly expecting their supply chain to deliver ‘green credentials’.

“One of the things we believe we’re going to see more of, is bigger commercial clients and end users expecting their suppliers to be able to demonstrate what they’re doing to minimise the impact of their business on the environment.

“For example, we’re currently working to reduce our CO₂ footprint and collating figures on waste and recycling rates because the companies we’re working with are asking for it and it’s going to be key to winning future business.”

Commenting on the event, Bohle’s Dave Broxton, said there was clear and continuing confidence amongst glass processors.

He said: “The mood still very positive. London continues to provide wide-ranging opportunities and well organised and run businesses are continuing to take advantage of them.

“What is, however, clear is that the industry needs to do more to address the skills gap that increasing automation of process and generational change has created.

“This isn’t unique to our industry and is something which can only be delivered through effective partnership between business, the industry’s representative bodies and Government.”

For more visit the Bohle website www.bohle-group.com/en-gb email info@bohle.ltd.uk or call the customer services team free on 0800 616151.

‘PRO-CAN has launched a range of high quality door canopies designed specifically for trade installers’

According to Sales Manager Lee Draper, PRO-CAN canopies are easy-fit, add–on sales opportunities for roofline and window installers in both new-build and refurb projects. “These are great quality, UK- made canopies in a range of styles to suit most houses. They are an easy, one or two-man fit and come as a kit with all the high-quality fixings needed to complete the job” says Draper.

PRO-CAN make canopies in the UK from top quality materials and supply the trade through a network of stockists. Tough transit packaging is used so that canopies are delivered in ready-to-fit condition so there is no downtime on site.

The PRO-CAN range includes flat and arched clear, 8.0mm thick polycarbonate in a variety of sizes plus injection moulded GRP designs with excellent tile-effect detailing. All come with an all-in-one pack of fittings to make installation quick and easy.

“We’ve made PRO-CAN one of the most fitter friendly range of canopies on the market” says Lee Draper.

Tel: 03450 569692

Email: info@procan.co.uk

www.procan.co.uk

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Shropshire-based trade fabricator Universal Trade Frames offers a comprehensive range of coloured products which opens up a world of colour for installers.  Customers can choose from the 28 coloured foil options in the Spectus Spectrum range foiled onto White, Brown, Tan or Cream profile.  Alternatively, frames can be painted in any RAL colour finish.  Both foiled and painted finishes come with a 10 year guarantee.

Managing Director Brian Kruger said: “There is no doubt homeowners are becoming more adventurous when it comes to colour. Demand has steadily increased in the past year and we do not see any sign of it slowing down. Any installers who don’t offer bespoke colours in their portfolio are missing a big opportunity as more and more homeowners are starting to understand what colour has to offer.”

In recent times foiled or paint-finished coloured frames have become increasingly popular with consumer demand for alternatives to white plastic and the colour range from Universal Trade Frames allows installers to capitalise on this growing trend.

The colour range from Universal is available across their 70mm product range which includes casement windows in a choice of Bevelled or Ovolo profiles and their Flush Sash options.  Also available are tilt and turn, fully reversible and vertical sliding windows.  For a seamless approach matching cills, trims and ancillaries all form part of the colour offer and are supported by the 10 year guarantee too.

Brian concludes: “Our standard coloured products are available on a 7 day turnaround which makes coloured products accessible to our customers.  The 28 colours in the foiled range include perennial favourites Chartwell Green, Anthracite Grey and Cream.”

www.utfl.co.uk

A fast-growing manufacturer of windows and doors has invested in what is understood to be a UK industry first.

Following the opening of its third factory in August this year, the TWR Group has recently invested in a pioneering Modula lift and storage system; and is the first UK based glass and glazing company to do so.

The Modula system is an automated storage and picking solution that has been built bespoke to TWR’s requirements. Typically, the system is found in sectors as diverse as healthcare, oil and gas, and automotive.

The Modula system installed at TWR is seven metres high and stores hundreds of products which can be accessed easily and efficiently by authorised personnel.

John Farren is General Manager of the UK branch of Modula Storage Solutions Ltd and discusses the advantages TWR will see from installing the automated vertical storage system.

He comments: “As well as increasing a company’s efficiency, our products also mean a reduced risk of injuries for employees who will not have to ascend ladders or stairs to retrieve potentially heavy products from shelves. Our systems also improve stock accuracy which help business owners keep track of their supplies.

“Last year alone we sold 1500 of our vertical storage systems worldwide and we work hard to provide customers with machines which are perfectly suited to their needs. In the past, we have produced lifts which can reach over 14 metres high. Ultimately, the system will speed up production at TWR, increase efficiency and minimise stock loss.”

TWR’s investment in the pioneering system is another bold move by the Peterlee based business and could pave the way for more companies to follow suit.

Terry Richardson, Managing Director and founder of TWR, comments: “We’re already seeing the benefits of having invested in a Modula lift system and we anticipate that it will prove to be a huge asset to our business in the coming years.

“It has freed up a huge amount of space in our factory which will allow us to invest in other new products and systems going forward. Everything we do here at TWR is about being world-class and pioneering – the resources we have at our disposal are market-leading.”

The TWR Group is one of the UK’s leading aluminium and PVC-u trade fabricators and suppliers, boasting a huge selection of products including bi-folding doors, WarmCore products, and aluminium lantern roof windows.

For more information please call 0191 565 2200 or email info@twrbifolds.co.uk